http://www.blackdogtemple.com/tblog/ en-us Nucleus CMS v3.24 © Weblog http://backend.userland.com/rss http://www.blackdogtemple.com/tblog//nucleus/nucleus2.gif http://www.blackdogtemple.com/tblog/ http://www.blackdogtemple.com/tblog/index.php?itemid=900 Nephew Joey got his drivers license and started college part time while still going to high school, performing in the marching band and the theater tech crew, and working at Wendys on top of all that. I don't know how the kid does it.
JR and I have been spending the past couple weekends travelling with the kids. Weekend before last was Gatlinburg, and this past weekend, we went to Breathitt County, KY to search for an old family graveyard. It was waaaayyyy out in the sticks and we had to park the car and walk up a huge, steep hill to find it. He found his grandparents and a bunch of other graves and took some photos for Find A Grave. We also passed by Loretta Lynn's birthplace and the burial place of Jenny Wiley. We didn't stop at either of those places, but I want to go back and see them. JR has been doing a lot of looking into his ancestry and educating the kids on the Native American side of their family. I think we're going back down there again this weekend to look up more gravesites. Oh, I also picked up a Breathitt County Bobcats baseball tshirt. Woot!
Work is going well, I suppose. It's not as busy as it's been in the past and I'm not quite sure why. I'm actually all caught up on my work and am helping out on other projects now. That's fine for now since I'm going to be taking Friday off and I'd like not be behind when I take a day off.

I know, sort of a boring update, but there's not a lot to report.

Oh, someone stole one of my kittens out of our yard. I'm really pissed about that...they took my favorite one, the mostly-white calico we named LuLu. JR had taken them outside to play with Zelda for a little while. They never leave the yard, they just lay around in the grass and frolic. I know she wouldn't have left the yard without Zelda and Minnie. I think maybe it was Karma cuz I was just telling Glenn a few hours before that I wanted to find new homes for the kittens. Now I feel like crap that she's gone. So, now we just have her sister, Minnie. She's a mostly black calico with splotches of orange and white. She's very pretty, but LuLu was just gorgeous.

anyway... later.
me]]> General http://www.blackdogtemple.com/tblog/index.php?itemid=900 Wed, 27 Aug 2008 21:03:38 -0400 http://www.blackdogtemple.com/tblog/index.php?itemid=899
So, yeah, as I was saying, Ronnie told me she wanted to be a tumbler so I looked online for a school and found one 15 miles from our house and tonight was her first class. They ran her up and down a track, taught her cartwheels, backward somersaults, frontward somersaults, and practiced a bunch of different exercises, and of course the trampoline. I couldn't get any really good pics cuz parents can't go into the actual gym area, but instead are told to stay in the lobby on the little bleachers there. It's all an open-air environment, so it's just a matter of using a good zoom. I'll try to take some better ones of Josie when she starts her class tomorrow night.

]]> General http://www.blackdogtemple.com/tblog/index.php?itemid=899 Wed, 20 Aug 2008 21:59:40 -0400 http://www.blackdogtemple.com/tblog/index.php?itemid=898
Anywhoooo...this weekend we took the kids to Gatlinburg for a quick little get-away before school starts. We shopped, did some sightseeing, took the kids to Cherokee to learn about their Indian heritage, did a lot of shopping, etc..We had a really nice time. Here's a few pics...I have more but I'm too lazy right now to put them online. Later prob'ly...

Josie, camera in hand, says "mom, hug your car!". It's freaky when even your kids realize how much you love your car.


Cool chicks read Highlights


Cool chicks read Highlights at scenic rest-areas


The war that put sister against sister
]]> General http://www.blackdogtemple.com/tblog/index.php?itemid=898 Mon, 18 Aug 2008 22:44:32 -0400 http://www.blackdogtemple.com/tblog/index.php?itemid=897 I also got my Subaru fixed today. Well, I approved the car place to do the work today, it won't actually be getting finished until tomorrow. It's getting something done to the transmission and getting a new exhaust. I can't wait to get it back. I miss my car!!
Oscar the nut-less dog is doing better. We've decided to make him an indoor dog and he's doing really well with that except that he's driving BlackDog absolutely crazy. BlackDog wants to lay around and be a bum all the time (he's 6yrs old) and all Oscar wants to do is play, play, play (he's 2yo). So, poor BlackDog is laying around trying to sleep and here comes Oscar pulling his tail, pulling his ears, biting his nose..just doing anything he can to get the big lump to play with him! I keep trying to catch this behavior with the camera, but I'm never fast enough.
I'm off to bed. If I can manage to wake up and not be puking, I'll be off to work and then going to see my surgeon at 1:30. Wish me luck.

]]> General http://www.blackdogtemple.com/tblog/index.php?itemid=897 Mon, 11 Aug 2008 23:11:09 -0400 http://www.blackdogtemple.com/tblog/index.php?itemid=896
]]> General http://www.blackdogtemple.com/tblog/index.php?itemid=896 Mon, 11 Aug 2008 12:33:30 -0400 http://www.blackdogtemple.com/tblog/index.php?itemid=895 Friday night was the second band parent show in the new stadium at the high school, as opposed to the parking lot they were in last time. They had more sets ready this time and I think we got to see the show in it's entirety. They did a really good job, I can't wait to see them in their new uniforms when they're all ready for competitions. They've got some fancy moves this year and some pretty fast footwork. Unfortunately, Diane couldn't make it to the show, so I sat with my mom, aunt, sister, and her fiance, H. H has a really good knack for always knowing where each kid is on the field at any given time. He's really handy to have around when it comes time for me to videotape the competitions later. I hooked up with Jen, Kevin, and Kevin R. again, too, which was fun. Oh, and I gots me a groovy band t-shirt (see Joey wearing it below). The shirt people messed up on the shirts this year, too. Instead of saying BHS Marching Band and Color Guard, it only says BHS Marching Band. Ehhh.

Saturday, I went to the hospital for some stomach pain I've been having the past couple nights. I had a cat scan and some bloodwork but everything came out normal. The ER doc conferred with my surgeon and they think I may have an intestinal blockage so I have to be tested for that. They said it's nothing to worry about and the test can be done in her office. They gave me vicodin and sent me home. I'm still in a lot of discomfort and have no idea how I'll work with the pain come next week, but hopefully she can see me on Monday. I have an appointment already on Thursday, but I'd like to be seen ASAP.

Did I tell you about my dog, Oscar, the Beagle/Basset? I didn't think so. Well, the little fucker is a master of escape and normally runs to the same house each time and the guy there brings him home. Well last week he got out, ran away, and we couldn't find him. I reported him to the police and to the vet up the street. If any of you remember when Sit went missing, the dumbasses who took him tried to take him to the vet and they called us, so I figured I should inform them. The police told me the dog warden was on light duty so he most likely wasn't going to be at the pound. A couple days later, I called the pound and they said he was there, but that we didn't call soon enough and that he now belonged to the pound. WTF. So, long story short (sort of), I had to adopt my own fucking dog. Not only that...but the Humane Society doesn't let any animal be adopted with it's reproductive organs intact. This is the dog that JR has wanted to breed ever since we got him, btw. So, I paid $100 to adopt my own dog without his balls. Not only that, but I got two tickets from dog court that I have to call and check the fees on. They're just like traffic tickets. Then I had to pay $40 in "restitution" for the time that the dog was at the pound. Here's what I don't get...if I'm adopting my own dog, why do I have to pay for the collection and boarding of the dog? I mean, they consider him THEIR dog and I'm just adopting him. If Joe Schmoe off the street had walked in and adopted him, he wouldn't have had to pay all that shit. In my opinion, I should either have been able to adopt him like Joe Schmoe OR paid my fees and taken my dog home without the adoption crap as it would have been had I not "waited too long to claim him". Oh, and they made me sign some stupid piece of shit paper saying I wouldn't have him as an outdoor pet. Whatever. I've had him 2yrs, they had him for 3 days, and they're gonna tell me what's best for my dog? Fuck them. Assholes.

Here's pics from Friday evening:

Me and Joey


Mary on the flute


Joey on sax
]]> General http://www.blackdogtemple.com/tblog/index.php?itemid=895 Sat, 9 Aug 2008 21:52:12 -0400 http://www.blackdogtemple.com/tblog/index.php?itemid=894 ]]> General http://www.blackdogtemple.com/tblog/index.php?itemid=894 Tue, 5 Aug 2008 22:12:58 -0400 http://www.blackdogtemple.com/tblog/index.php?itemid=893
Friday night was the band's first parent show. This is where the families come out and the kids put on their show for us only. They're not in dress uniform and it's all kinda casual and fun. They go through some of their steps and then they pick a parent or family member to take their spot on the field and teach them to march the first few moves. This year, I got to go out and do Joey's part. My bff, Diane, who was there with me went out and did Mary's part. Diane was in Color Guard in high school so she was all up on how to do this shit. Not me! I'm like "shit...okay...uh...where do I go now???" and then I look over and Diane and she's doing everything like a pro. It was a LOT of fun.

The neat thing about this season is that two of my old friends from high school also have kids in the band. Bev, you'll remember Jen Fraley, I'm sure. She and her husband, Kevin V. have a daughter in her Freshman year on trumpet. A guy I work with and went to school with, Kevin R., has a daughter playing clarinet. And then I've got Joey and Mary. I bumped into Kevin R. at work and got him in touch with Diane cuz they used to run around together in school. Then I invited her to come to the parent show and we all hooked up there along with Jen and her husband, Kevin V. The two Kevins were a year ahead of us in school and they were all in band/color guard together. I was just a groupie. So, anyway, the parent show was like a little mini-reunion and we had a good time hanging out and just chit-chatting and meeting each others kids, or in my case my nephew/niece.

Here's some pictures...and there's more here.

Joey looking ever so punk in the red pants (that i bought him!) and striped socks. His gf, Rachel, is about 6 people behind in a pink tank-top.


Mary in the black tee playing flute


Diane and Me being....well, us!


Me and Joey
]]> General http://www.blackdogtemple.com/tblog/index.php?itemid=893 Sun, 3 Aug 2008 01:17:15 -0400 http://www.blackdogtemple.com/tblog/index.php?itemid=892
Saturday was me and JR's 9th anniversary of the day we met. Yeah, we're goofy like that and remember to do something together every year. So, we ditched the kids with my parents and went to see Step Brothers up at The Greene. We're big Will Farrell and John C. Reily fans so we just had to go and see it. Then we drove down to my old college where we first met. We were going to sit and reminisce for a while, but there was a Dayton Dragons game going on and the parking lot of the school was being used for overflow parking. We drove through the parking lot, though. Then we called in a couple of sandwiches from this little bar in Kettering that makes THE BEST roast beef sandwiches. We took those back to my parents house and ate there and chatted with my parents. Diane's mom came down and talked to us for a little while, too. I haven't seen her since Grandma's funeral so it was good to see her again. While JR and I were out, we stopped at KMart and wandered around, too. We ended up buying the kids a lava lamp for their room. Josie's been asking for one for a long time and they were on sale. I bought one for my room, too. yay!

Tonight, Gary and I went to see Batman: Dark Knight at the Imax theater in Springdale. It was pretty good, but Heath Ledger really carried the movie. His performance was just amazing. I wouldn't be surprised if he got the Oscar for that one. Anyway, it was really nice hanging out with just Gary and having some parent/kid time with him. He's a good guy.

Ah well...back to the grind tomorrow. We moved to a new building the other day and are in a secured area. Unfortunately, they still haven't given most of the contractors the badges needed to get INTO that secure facility so I have to call someone to let me in until they get my badge. They did give me a BlackBerry, though. WOot!

Off to bed...later
]]> General http://www.blackdogtemple.com/tblog/index.php?itemid=892 Sun, 27 Jul 2008 23:13:57 -0400 http://www.blackdogtemple.com/tblog/index.php?itemid=891
The theater was PACKED! but the audience was really great. We laughed and hooted and hollar'd and you could see people kinda dancing in their chairs. I was singing along to all the songs quietly and my mom kept saying "oh! I remember this song". I found out she thinks Pierce Brosnan is handsome and I told her "ohhh, mom, he's sooooo Remington Steele". I got over him in the 5th grade when dad wouldn't let me watch him on tv at 7 AND 11. He also wouldn't let me watch Monty Python at midnight, but I did anyway cuz he was already in bed by then. SHHHH!!! Don't tell him. Anyway, I introduced mom to the Firthman and all his sexiness. Mmmmm. Of course, by the end of the movie I was telling mom that I might have to make Pierce my boyfriend, too, but he'd have to take his place behind Daniel Craig. Things have to be in their order, ya know. The third guy in the movie was pretty nifty, too, but I have no idea who he was. Glenn close was just freaking AMAZING. There was one point in the film when I said "DAY-UM!" If you've seen the movie, it's the scene when she and Pierce are walking to the wedding along the stone pathway and singing to each other. Then there's this woman who is a friend of Glenn Close's character that I swore was Tracy Ullman, but it wasn't. She looked like her, though.

At the end of the movie, we all applauded and hooted before leaving. It was such a great time!! So, yeah, go see the movie. I gotta go try and find the soundtrack.

]]> General http://www.blackdogtemple.com/tblog/index.php?itemid=891 Wed, 23 Jul 2008 20:08:27 -0400